Vijaya Lakshmi

Vijaya Lakshmi is the Lakshmi of victory. Vijaya means success or triumph, and in this form the goddess is turned toward the completion of a long effort. Where Veera Lakshmi concerns courage during a struggle, Vijaya Lakshmi is usually understood as the one who brings the effort to its end. Some southern lists call her Jaya Lakshmi, a variant that is common in the Ashtalakshmi Stotra, showing again that the eight names are not identical in every tradition.

She has eight arms holding a discus, a conch, a sword, a shield, a noose, a goad and a lotus, with one hand making the gesture of fearlessness. Red is her colour and a lion is her mount. The mantra Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Vijaya-Lakshmyai Namah salutes her by name. Tradition links her to the end of the fight with Mahishasura on Vijayadashami, after which she is said to have appeared in gentler form to give the fruit of the victory.

Vijayadashami is therefore her main festival. Devotees recite her thousand names or her mantra and take up unfinished work in a spirit of completion. Tuesday is kept for her along with Friday. Shrines of Mahishasuramardini and the Chamundeshwari temple in Mysuru are associated with her in popular belief, though these are primarily temples of Durga.